Razor blade sharpener



Aprill 6, W37. J. R. DICKVEY 2,076,265

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER A Fil ed May 29, 1935 F & J. 7 I 7 WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

aw-Ea m y Patented Apr. 6, 1937' UNITED STATES amazes aAzoa BLADE snAarENan John R. Dickey, Media, Pa. Application May 29, 1935, Serial No. 24,062

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to razor blade sharpening devices, and particularly to devices of the type in which a blade is carried in pressure contact with the inner surface of a tubular sharpening element.

It is well-known that a safety razor blade may be sharpened by moving it back and forth with the finger on the inner cylindrical surface of a glass tumbler, and it has been proposed to employ apparatus comprising a tubular element of glass, or like material, in combination with a. rotatable carrier for maintaining a blade against the innerwall of the tubular member,

and moving it back and forth to sharpen the edge thereof. So far as I am aware, the devices of this nature which have heretofore been proposed are complicated in structure by reason of the large number of parts and relatively expensive to manufacture, and. such devices are inefficient in operation by reason of the fact that no means are provided for effecting a fine adjustment of the pressure with which the blade is maintained against the sharpening element. In order to obtain a keen edge, it is necessary to adjust such pressure contact carefully and within relatively narrow limits.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a sharpener of this type which is characterized by simplicity of construction, and which may be operated with ease and facility, and at the same time to provide means for effecting a delicate adjustment of the pressure with which the blade is held in contact with the sharpener element. The device of my invention is further characterized by a smallnumber of parts of relatively inexpensive material.

Other objects and advantages characterizing myinvention will become more fully apparent from the description hereinafter set forth of one example or embodiment thereof, having reference to the accompanying drawing. Of the drawing:

Fig. I represents a view, partly in cross section and partly in side elevation, of a razor blade sharpener of my invention; and i Fig. H represents a cross section of the same,

taken as indicated by the lines II-II of Fig. I. With reference to the drawing, there is shown a tubular sharpening element I which may be made of glass or like material, and which pre-' sents a smooth inner wall around which a razor blade 2 is carried by means of .a blade holder 3. The blade holder 3 is mounted on a shaft 4 which extends centrally through the tubular sharpening element i, and which is journaled for rotation in bearing members 5 secured to the ends of the tubular body I. Rotation of the shaft 4 is accomplished by turning a crank 6 secured to one end of the shaft.

Each bearing member 5 preferably takes the form of a clip comprising a relatively narrow strip of metal extending diametrically across the end of the tubular body and having flanges I for gripping the outer wall of the tubular body with sufficient pressure to prevent relative rotation between the parts. The rotatable shaft 4 has an intermediate portion 8 of rectangular cross section in the center of which, as shown in Fig. II, there is provided a square slot 9. The blade holder 3 has a square shank l0 fittin within the slot 9 and guided thereby with capacity for sliding movement in a direction radially of the axis of the shaft 4. The blade holder 3 carries at the end thereof an arcuate foot II, the bottom of which may be roughened to pro- 'vide frictional contact with the blade 2. I have found, however, that when the position of the blade holder 3 is properly adjusted, the pressure imposed upon the blade and tending to flex the same slightly, is sufficient to prevent the blade from slipping, so that it is at all times maintained in the proper position between the foot H and the inner wall of the tubular body I while the handle 6 is being turned.

The blade holder 3 has a central threaded bo're l2, and a correspondingly threaded thumb screw i3 fits within the bore l2 and serves as a means for adjusting the position of the blade holder with relation to the sharpening element I. Desirably the thumb screw l3 has a knurled head it. Movement of the thumb screw l3 in the direction of its longitudinal axis is prevented by means of a U-shaped clip i5 which extends over, the top of the knurled head Hi, and is united at its ends to the central portion 8 of the shaft 4.

Accordingly, a turning movement of the thumb screw l3 causes sliding movement of the shank ll] of the blade holder 3 within the slot 9, and in this manner a fine adjustment is afforded so that the razor blade 2 is held against the sharpening element l with the desired pressure.

It will be noted that the end bearing members 5 are so constructed as to permit ready access into the tubular body I with the fingers, where-- by the knurled head M of the thumb screw l3 may be turned and the above described adjustment may be readilyaccomplished. Moreover, the insertion of the blade 2 beneath the foot ll of the blade holder 3 is a simple matter and may easily beaccomplished by turning the handle 5 to a position in which the end of the blade holder 3 is readily accessible.

It will be apparent that the device of this invention is made up of parts which are simple to construct and assemble and inexpensive to manufacture. At the same time, the device is reliable and eificient in its operation, and avoids the difllculties which have heretofore been encountered because it provides a delicate, though easy, adjustment'of the pressure of the blade against the sharpening element.

While I have described one exampleot my invention, it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form of the apparatus herein described and illustrated, without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A razor blade sharpener comprising a, tubular sharpening element, bearing members at the ends thereof, a slotted shaft supported for rotation by said bearing members, a blade holder guided within said slotted shaft and extending radially therefrom to carry a blade against the inner surface of said sharpening element, and a thumb screw accessible through the ends of said sharpening element having a threaded engagement with said blade holder and serving as a means for adjusting the position of said blade 6 holder with relation to the sharpening element, and means on said shaft for preventing axial movement of said thumb screw.

2. A razor blade sharpener comprising a tubular sharpening element, bearing members at 10 the ends thereof, a shaft supported for rotation by said bearing members and having a central portion of rectangular cross section, with a slottherein, a blade holder fitting in said slot and? extending radially from said shaft to carry a 1 for adjusting the position 01' 0 

